John Moran found 192 fresh ways to laud California Living

Sister Mary Corita Kent, ‘Jacob’s Ladder,’ $1,500
Sister Mary Corita Kent, ‘Jacob’s Ladder,’ $1,500
Sister Mary Corita Kent, ‘Jacob’s Ladder,’ $1,500

LOS ANGELES — May 17 proved to be the perfect California day for John Moran Auctioneers to host its California Living sale. The finely curated selection offered a treasure trove of fine art and accessories in the California aesthetic everyone knows and loves.

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Architectural wrought iron: shapely decorative accents

Edgar Brandt’s Paon wrought-iron fireplace screen achieved €34,000 ($35,598) plus the buyer’s premium in May 2022. Image courtesy of Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH and LiveAuctioneers
Edgar Brandt’s Paon wrought-iron fireplace screen achieved €34,000 ($35,598) plus the buyer’s premium in May 2022. Image courtesy of Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK – Hand-wrought iron farmyard and kitchen tools, worked by blacksmiths over fiery forges, were unadorned until the early 1800s. As the craft evolved, however, wooden cupboards, dowry chests, sideboards and wardrobes were secured with increasingly ornate iron hinges, keys and locks. Realizing that the functional can also be beautiful, blacksmiths ran with the notion, producing all sorts of decorative wonders from wrought iron.

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The art of the garden: ideas for exterior decorating

A monumental bronze Beaux Arts garden fountain sold for $32,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2021 at New Orleans Auction Galleries.
A monumental patinated bronze Beaux Arts garden fountain, standing 8ft tall, sold for $32,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2021 at New Orleans Auction Galleries.

NEW YORK — Antiques have never been solely for interior use. Avid gardeners have long incorporated antiques and artful objects into their gardens to create focal points and add character, history and texture. A large garden in suburbia isn’t necessary to pull off this look; even city or apartment dwellers can use antiques to create appealing gardens in small spaces.

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